Principal Project Engineer

Title: Principal Project Engineer

Location: Leighton Buzzard, United Kingdom

Joining Collins Aerospace isn’t just about finding a job; it’s about embarking on a journey to redefine the future of aerospace technology. Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defence industry. Collins Aerospace has the capabilities, comprehensive portfolio, and expertise to solve customers’ toughest challenges and to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global market.

This role focuses on driving measurable performance using defined KPIs and ensuring consistency across all project phases.

The successful candidate will directly report to the Senior Program Engineering Manager and will operate day‑to‑day within a Program Management Team supporting the Program Chief Engineer.

• Define and maintain clear, structured scope aligned to project objectives
• Control scope changes to prevent uncontrolled deviation and develop robust, logically linked project schedules
• Support development plans achieving a high First Pass Yield (FPY) at key gates
• Validate sequencing of tasks, dependencies, and critical path accuracy
• Pro‑actively identify, assess, and mitigate project risks, drive risk reduction, retirement, and burndown trends
• Protect the program by containing and resolving issues in a timely, structured manner and develop and execute recovery plans
• Serve as technical interface for all internal and external stakeholders
• Develop customer relationships based on transparency and trust
• Author, check, and approve technical documentation in accordance with delegation of authority
• Monitor, report, and act upon key performance and leading indicators to help achieve predictable outcomes

• The successful candidate will be a self‑starter with strong customer focus and a mindset to take on challenges and create solutions.
• Have at least 5 years’ experience in a technical role, with engineering/manufacturing experience essential.
• Be able to lead a cross‑functional, global team to deliver complex product development through a gated NPI process.
• Demonstrate excellent communication skills and achieve desired outcomes through dialogue with a range of stakeholders.
• Possess experience within and an understanding of the aircraft interiors industry, including certification, product development, and customer expectations (desirable).
• Be literate and adaptable with a variety of project management and engineering software tools (Team centre, Primavera, MS365, CATIA V5, etc.).
• Apply fundamental project management methodologies.

• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays
• Competitive salary and bonus scheme
• Fantastic pension scheme /li>
• Critical illness cover /li>
• Income protection and private medical insurance /li>
• Employee Assistance Programme, ability to buy holidays, cycle‑to‑work scheme and other employee discounts /li>

RTX adheres to the principles of equal employment. All qualified applications will be given careful consideration without regard to ethnicity, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.